Simple and Competitive Adsorption Study of Nickel(II) and Chromium(III) on the Surface of the Brown Algae Durvillaea antarctica Biomass

[Image: see text] In this work Ni(II) and Cr(III) adsorption on Durvillaea antarctica surface were studied, optimal condition of pH, adsorption time is achieved at pH 5.0, with contact times of 240 and 420 minutes for a maximum adsorption capacity of 32.85 and 102.72 mg g(–1) for Ni(II) and Cr(III), respectively. The changes in the vibration intensity of the functional groups detected in the starting material by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the opening of the cavities after the biosorption process detected by scanning electron microscopy images suggested the interaction of the metal ions with the surface and the changes in the chemical behavior of the solid. The heavy metal adsorption equilibrium data fitted well to the Sips model. The effect of competitive ions on adsorption equilibrium was also evaluated, and the results showed that the two metals compete for the same active sites of the biosorbent; the increase of the Ni(II) initial concentration increases its adsorption capacity but decreases the adsorption capacity of Cr(III).